Olefinic alcohols 8a-c are prepared from condensations of the lithium enolate derived from y- butyrolactone (5) with cyclohexanone, 4-methylcyclohexanone, and 4, 4- dimethylcyclohexanone to give lactonic alcohols 6a-c, followed by dehydration with phosphorous pentoxide and Celite to give cyclohexenes 7a-c and lactone saponification and esterification with diazomethane; dehydration of 6b gives 7b as an equimolar mixture ...
